as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back
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Recent Examples of fall back
In the process of watering the seed in, some of the loose soil dredged up by the disks falls back into the slits, covering the seed.
—
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 19 Feb. 2026
The time change will end on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Later in the week, highs will fall back into the 20s and 30s, and there will be more chances for snow.
—Joseph Dames, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The rocket reached an altitude of 224 miles (360 km) before falling back to Earth.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fall back
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 19 Feb. 2026
The time change will end on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Later in the week, highs will fall back into the 20s and 30s, and there will be more chances for snow.
—Joseph Dames, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The rocket reached an altitude of 224 miles (360 km) before falling back to Earth.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall back
Verb
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By April, Kabila’s new government was persuaded by the IMF and the World Bank to withdraw from the contract with Gertler after only eight months.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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Lupel continued working to get Dotson’s rape conviction overturned until withdrawing as his attorney in 1986.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Totality ends and the umbra gradually retreats across the lunar surface.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
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Totality ends and the process reverses, with the umbra gradually retreating across the lunar surface.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And prices dropped back around the $2 mark soon after thanks to a higher production of broilers — or chickens raised for meat — in the latter half of the year.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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Temperatures are expected to drop back to near- or below-normal levels through the weekend and into the start of next week.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
Updated February 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One skier had pulled out at the last minute, Moon said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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During the incident, the man whoallegedly pulled out a knife before at least one officer fired shots, according to Boisvert.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Doug and Big Jane eventually retired down in San Antonio, close to their boys.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
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La Shelle Dozier, SHRA’s longest serving executive director, retired in October.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fall back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20back. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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